Canon 50mm 1.8 prime lens

[tonyq]

being new to dslr,(Canon 600D 18/55 lens kit), I keep seeing how good the Canon 50mm 1.8 prime lens is for the money. As the above lens is a prime lens, which I presume is o.k for Indoor portrait shots,roughly how far away do you have to stand from the subject to get a head an shoulder portrait shot that fills the frame?

 

[mipevo6]

being new to dslr,(Canon 600D 18/55 lens kit), I keep seeing how good the Canon 50mm 1.8 prime lens is for the money. As the above lens is a prime lens, which I presume is o.k for Indoor portrait shots,roughly how far away do you have to stand from the subject to get a head an shoulder portrait shot that fills the frame?

Set your kit lens to 50mm and you will see yourself

Seriously, for the money this is a great lens....

 

[MIQ]

I was considering this lens based on the rave reviews, but found (based on testing with my current zoom) that 50mm is too long for a crop sensor for what I wanted it for.

Now looking at a Sigma 30mm 1.4 to get the same 'true 50mm' field of view.

 

[DoctorBob]

I was considering this lens based on the rave reviews, but found (based on testing with my current zoom) that 50mm is too long for a crop sensor for what I wanted it for.

Now looking at a Sigma 30mm 1.4 to get the same 'true 50mm' field of view.

This is exactly what I found.

I now stick to my 17-55 or my 24mm f1.4 depending on how wide I need.

Even at f1.4 though, depending on how far you're comfortable pushing the ISO, indoors at night with dim lighting can still require use of bounce flash so [to the OP] I'd probably invest in a flash fairly early on if you haven't got one already.

 

[tonyq]

Thank you all for your advice.
mipevo6, never thought of that.
MIQ, good Idea, but more than I am wanting to spend.

 

[BeatenPathPhoto]

being new to dslr,(Canon 600D 18/55 lens kit), I keep seeing how good the Canon 50mm 1.8 prime lens is for the money. As the above lens is a prime lens, which I presume is o.k for Indoor portrait shots,roughly how far away do you have to stand from the subject to get a head an shoulder portrait shot that fills the frame?

Try around 5ft. 50mm is equivalent to 80mm on a crop-s. I did this the other night from arms length with my 50mm I fit most of my head in the photo

 

[modchild]

I always found the 50 to be a bit long on a crop body for getting full person shots indoors, but for just head and shoulders it should be fine at around 5 to 8 feet. That should be close enough to be indoors and far enough to get a good shot. Definitely look into getting a flash though, IIRC the 600D is already wireless enabled so you can go for some creative off camera flash shots without having to pay for triggers etc. Plus you get the benefits of improved on camera flash shots too. Some of the Nissin range of flash guns are wireless enabled too, and don't cost a fortune either.